By Abubakar Yunusa
The Youth-led Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) Consortium has faulted the Senate over its decision to reject mandatory electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The group expressed disappointment with the decision taken during plenary on February 4, 2026, despite the Senate passing the bill at third reading.
YERP-Naija said the Senate dropped a widely supported amendment earlier approved by the House of Representatives in December 2025.
The amendment sought to make real-time electronic transmission of results from polling units compulsory.
Instead, the Senate retained provisions allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission to decide administratively whether to transmit results electronically.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the consortium said the refusal to make electronic transmission mandatory weakens transparency and public confidence in elections.
The statement was signed by Bukola Idowu of Kimpact Development Initiative; Nonso Orakwe of Catch Them Young Community Initiative; Zigwai Ayuba of J-DEV Foundation; Israel Orekha of Connected Advocacy; Abimbola Aladejare Salako of The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative; and Ashraf Tukur of Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative.
The group said many Nigerians, particularly young voters, viewed mandatory electronic transmission as a key step towards restoring trust in the electoral process.
YERP-Naija urged the conference committee of the National Assembly to use the harmonisation process to reinstate the provision.
It also called on civil society groups, labour unions, youth networks and the media to pressure the Senate leadership to reverse its decision.
The consortium warned that delays or diluted reforms could undermine preparations for the 2027 general elections.
It stressed that electoral laws must be passed early enough to allow effective implementation.
According to the group, credible elections require clear, predictable and enforceable legal standards.
YERP-Naija said decisions taken during the current reform process would shape Nigeria’s democratic credibility and public trust for years to come.
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